Mechanical movement and support for washing-machine wringers.



A. W. ALTORFER MECHANICAL MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR WASHING MACHINEWRINGERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1912.

Patented Mar. '28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEEI I.

A. W. ALTORFER. MECHANICAL MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR WASHING MACHINEWRINGERS,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2. 1912.-

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

eras sadism orb.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, OF ROANOKE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO POWER WASHING"MACHINE 00., 0F ZPEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT AND SUPPURT FOB WASHING-MACHINE W'RINGERS.

iavaeao.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, Ami-Inns W. ALTOR- FER, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Roanokrnin the county of \Voodford and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Movements and Supports for \Vashing-Machine Wringers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combined power washing andwringing mechanism and has particular referencev to the support and thedriving means for said mechanisms.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a simple,strong and attractive supportfor a washing machine having means thereonfor operating the machine by power and also having slidably mountedthereon a frame adapted to hold a wringer mechanism with powerconnections to drive said wringer mechanism which is movable on thesupport or frame to various positions relative to the washing machine.

This application is a division of the appli cation for Letters Patentfiled by me on July 2nd, 1912, bearing Serial Number 710,625 forimprovements in combined power washing and wringing mechanism.

My invention further contemplates improvements in various details instructure and design.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mavhereinafter appear my invention consists in the construction,combination and arrangement. of parts hereinafter described and thensought to'bc defined in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which is illustrateda preferred embodiment of my invention. it being understood howeverthat; various changes may be made in practice within the scope of theclaims without digressing from my inventive idea.

la the drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention,the washing machine being shown in dotted lines and the sliding framebeing shown'in two positions in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe back end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line3-3 ofFig. 1. look-' ing in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken on line 4-4 of Fig.1,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Rial. 28, 191%,

Original application filed July .2, 1912, Serial No. 710,625.

1912. Serial Flo. 719,9?5.

Divided and this application filed September 12,

looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail view of theoperating rod for the wringer clutch and its mounting. Fig. 6 is an endview of a bracket bearing for the main shaft. Fig. 7 is a side viewthereof. Fig. 8 is a side view of the stud shaft and its mounting. Fig.9 is an end view thereof. Fig..10 is an inside elevation of the slidingsupport for the vertical arms and the supplemental frame. Fig. 11 is adetail view of the gear supporting bracket, and Fig. 12 is a detailsection showing the manner of keying the clutch member to the shaft.

in the drawings the same reference characters are used to designate likeand corresponding parts.

My invention is directed particularly to an improvement in thesupporting frame for the various mechanisms employed in frame isconstructed largely of angle iron,

that being the simplest and strongest material available for thepurpose, thus giving the machine strength and rigidity and at the sametime an attractive appearance.

The main frame of the machine is formed of the'longitudinal side members1, which are suitably bent or shaped as at l to form the vertical legs2-. These members are preferably of angle iron as shown in Figs. 2 and.4. The horizontal flange thereof is utilized as the support for thebottom of the frame. These angle irons may be positioned so that thehorizontal flange is either at the top or at the bottom thereof, thebottom of the frame being secured thereto in either position. However inthe form shown they are preferably positioned with the vertical flange 3toward the outer edge,' the horizontal flange 4' forming a support forthe bottom 5 of the frame. In this construction it is to he noted thatthe bottom rests {lush formed of wood and has the longitudinal braces 6which engage the edge of the horizontal flange 4 of the side members ofthe frame. This frame is further provided with the lower transverse endmembers 7 which are preferably of angle iron and the upper transversemembers 8. These members connect and brace the legs 2 of the frame. Thelower side members 9 brace the vertical legs 2, being connected theretoin any suitable manner, preferably resting upon the transverse endmembers 7 and secured to the vertical legs. Diagonal braces are providedwherever necessary being shown at 9 at the end of the support which isused for the washing machine.

On one end of the main frame, preferably the washing machine end, ismounted a supporting frame for the driving connections for the washer.This frame is composed of the upwardly extending members '11 and thehead or top piece 12. In this form'shown these members are formed andbent from an integral strip or piece of an le iron. The head or top iece12 forms the bearing support for the upper portion of the driv ngmechanism for the washing machine. Tin this structure the bearing takesthe form of the pulleys 15 which are journaled on the stud shafts 13forming a part of or attached ley 19 is fastened to the shaft 18 toreceive power from any source. This main shaft 18is longitudinally andcentrallv disposed below said bottom being journaled to said frame. Oneend of the main shaft 18 is iournaled in the bearing shown in detail inFigs. 6 and 7, comprising the s ecuringplate or portion 20, having theflange or shoulder 21 to rest on the edge of the end member 8 and havingthe slee e or iournal bearing 22 formed thereon. The other end of theshaft 18 is supported in a simple bearing. This shaft is grooved orformed with a keyway as at 23 for a larger part of its length preferablybeginning some distance from the driving end thereof. The purpose ofthis will appear later.

A conventional form of washing machine is indicated at 24 by the dottedlines, driven by the shaft 25 and pulley 26. which pulley frictionallyengages the stretch of belt between the pullevs 15 as shown, so thatwhen the pulley 26 is in engagement with said stretch of belt thewashing machine will be dri en'and when it is lifted therefrom, thewashing machine will not be operated. The form and details however ofthis structure are not important as they are not included in thisinvention.

Now in devices of this character it has been found advantageous to mounta wringer on the main frame and support so that it may be moved to andfrom juxta- I have ing, show such a form. This movable or slidingsupplemental frame 27 comprises the vertical side members or standards28 and the horizontal top piece 29. It is on this supplemental framethat the wringer mechanism is carried bypreferably being clamped to saidtop piece, the operating shaft for said wringer being suitably journaledthereon. In this-disclosure the construction is as follows. .Secured tothis supplemental frame is the bearing bracket 30 in which is journaledthe operating shaft 31 for the wringer, shown diagrammatically in dottedlines 32, in Figs. 1 and 2. On the end of this shaft 31 is mounted thedriving connection, taking the form ofthe pulley 33 having the handle 34for the hand operation .but which is usually driven. by the flexiblemeans 35- shown as a belt, from the small pulley 36, the connection fordriving which will be described at length here.- inafter.

The vertical side members or standards 28 of the supplemental frame 27are mounted on suitable sliding supports or runners which rest on themain frame and are constructed so that the frictional resistance isreduced to a minimum. This is for the purpose of permitting thesupplemental frame which supports the wringer to be readily moved onsaid main frame to various positions relative to said washing machine.

These sliding supports or runners also carry or support the shaft fromwhich the wringer operating shaft is driven and in addition carry themeans for operating the connections whereby the wringer mechanism may bedriven forward or backward or left idle at the will of the operator,said parts moving with the supplemental frame so as to be convenient andaccessible.

The side members 28 are secured to the sliding supports or runners 38,preferably in sockets 37 formed therein whereby they are suitably bracedand rigidly held. These sliding supports or runners 38 are each providedwith means adapted to bear on the side members 1 of the main frame andto be 'proridcc for the shaft 45. The main ,ing shelf is attached.

' other side with the clutch faces form of depending lips or cars 40which slide on the outside of the side members 1. Oneach runner isprovided i a. suitable connecting member a.

the form of the'flange'or shoulder 42-011 the inside of said runner. Theconnecting member or brace and supportingshelf wil-l 'lie describedlater.

The main body poi tion of each sliding support or runner 38 is extendedYdownbearing 62 which is secured to the underside wardly and providedwith the additional guiding and holding flange 41 which engages:

and slides under the bottom of the side member 1 of the main frame. Sofar as described the sliding supporting members the same. The slidingsupport'or runner on the right hand side of the machine, looking atFigs. 2 and 4, and as shown in Figs.

and 10 supports and carries the clutch oper ating rod to be describedlater,'being provided withan aperture or. hearing 43 ,for

that purpose, while the sliding supporting" member on the left hand side"of the ma'- chine, looking at Figs; 2 and l, and as shown in Figs. 1and 4 supports and carries the short countershaft 45 being provided withthe depending sleeve or hearing i l in which said shaft is journaled.This shaft .45 is the operating shaft for the wringer ha "ng securedthereto the pulley 36. lit is a'dditlrm ally supported by means of thehearing 46 formed on the bracket 47 which is. secured. to the connectingmember or brace 01' supporting shelf 48, the latter being positioned onthe horizontal shelves or flanges, 42 re ferred to before. Thisconnecting member or brace forms the lower member ofthe supplcmentalframe :27 as it connects the two sliding supports or runners so thattheymove together bracing them so toform practically a unitary structure,This connecting member or brace forms a horizontal shelf or supportingmember and carries the brackets 49, whichhave formed on their extremitalportions the bearing slee tes "50 which engage the hubs 51 of the spacedgear wheels the latter being loosely mounted on the main shaft 18 andprovided on the Engaging these spaced gear wheels is the beveled gearwheel 54 which is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 45 which drivesthe wringer mechanism. These brackets are preferably.

three in number, an additional, one being sleeves, which, as statedbefore, bear on the" outside of the hubs of the spaced .gear

wheels 52, so that when'thesupplemental frame is moved along the mainframe, the gears will also be moved, as will the shaft 45, sothat thewringer mechanism may be This means takes operated in anyposition.Mounted between these spaced gear wheels 52 is the sliding clutch memberhaving the two clutch arms 59 of the operating lever 60 which has thehorizontal portion 61 journaled in a of the connecting brace 4-8, andthe horizontal portion 61 of the operating lever also extending throughthe aperture 43 in the sliding support 38 and then being turned upwardlyto extend along the vertical side member .28 of the supplemental frame,as at (iii-{and provided with the out-turned handle 6%. T he verticalportion 63 of this operating lever is formed at a slight inclination tothe perpendicular, as shown at Fig. 4, and is normally adapted to engagethe notches 65 in the locking member 66 secured to one of "the sidemembers :28 of the supplemental frame. It is obvious that by springingthe vertical portion 63 of the operating lever out of engagement withsaid locking member and moving it to either one of the end notches. asindicated in dotted lines in Fig.

5, that the clutch member will be thrown nto engagement with one of thegear wheels 132, thus driving the shaft 4-5, pulleys 36 and Sffijshaft31, and wringer 32 in one direction,

and, by moving said operating handle into engagement with the other endnotch, the

movement of the wringer will be reversed. Further, by leaving the handlein the central notch, as indicated in Fig. 5 in full lines, the clutchmember will not engage the clutch face on either gear wheel. and thewringer will not be operated. .This disclosure is made to show apreferred form of the operating mechanisms to operatiyely connect thewringer mechanism to the main shaft. It is obvious that numerousmechanical equivalents may be utilized in place of the specificstructureshown.

It is to be noted particularly that I have provided a very simplyconstructed and operated mechanism. By having the sliding supports orrunners 38 resting on the upper edge of the vertical flange 3 of theside members-1. there is produced a mini.-

*mum amount of frictional resistance tothe l sliding movement of thesupplemental frame supporting the wringer. This frame may be readilymoved by the exercise of little strength, the handle 67 being appliedfor that purpose. The wringer may be readily.

reversed or stopped and will remain in that posit on until the operatingrod 15 disengaged from. its lock. The washing machine This clutch member1s provided with a groove 58 for the may be stopped at any time byremoving the pulley 26 from engagement with the belt 12. Should thepower fail, either mechanism may be operated by the hand as indicated.

It has been found advisable to allow for considerable working space andtherefore for the use of additional tubs I provide an additional support68 which is provided with the holding extensions or members 69 fittingbetween the longitudinal brace members 6 of the bottom 4 and fittingbetween the transverse member 70 and the bottom 4: as shown in Fig. 1.This increases the capacity of the support by providing room foradditional tubs. This support may be attached to the main frame invarious ways its object beingto provide a convenient and simple methodof increasing the floor or bottom space of the frame.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A machine support or frame, including longitudinal side members, endsupporting members, a floor or bottom supported on said side members, asupplemental frame including uprights or standards and a head or toppiece connected thereto, supporting members or runners on which saiduprights or standards are mounted, said supporting members'or runnersresting on and being movable along said side members, a brace connectingsaid supporting members or run ners, one of said supporting members orrunners being provided with a bearing adapted for one end of atransverse shaft and a bearing secured to saidconnecting brace for theother end of said transverse shaft. a i

. 2.'A machine support or frame, including longitudinal side members,end supporting members, a floor or bottom supported on said sidemembers, a. supplemental frame including uprights or standards and ahead or top piece connected thereto, supporting members or runners onwhich said uprights or standards are mounted. said supporting members orrunners resting on and being movable along said side members, a braceconnecting said supporting members or runners, one of said supportingmembers or runners being provided with a bearing adapted for one end ofa transverse shaft and a bearing'secured to said connecting brace forthe other end of said transverse shaft and additional bearings securedto said connecting brace, said additional bearings being disposed inalinement to receive a longitudinal shaft.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame, includinglongitudi nal side members, end supporting members and a. floor orbottom supported on said side members, a shaft arranged below the Yfloor and extending longitudinally of said main frame, an upstandingopen frame said longitudinal shaft adapted to be driven from a suitablesource of power.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame, includinglongitudirial side members, end supporting members and a. floor orbottom supported on said side members, a shaft arranged below the floorand extending longitudinally of said main frame, an upstanding openframe arranged on said main frame, a shaft journaled on sald upstandingframe and arranged transversely ofsald main frame and below the floorthereof, clutch controlled gearing to .operatively connect saidtransverse shaft to said longitudinal shaft, said clutch controlledgearing comprising spaced gears loosely mounted on said longitudinalshaft, an additional gear secured tosaid transverse shaft and in meshwith said spaced gears, a clutch member slidably keyed to saidlongitudinal shaft andadapted to clutch either one of said spaced gearsto said longitudinal shaft, and means to more said clutch member into ena ement with one of said s need 7 b gear wheels.

5'. In an apparatus of the character described, a main frame, a shaftcentrally journaled thereon and extending longitudinally thereof andbeing adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power at one end,said shaft being provided with an extended groove or keyqvay, asupplemental frame movably-mounted on said main frame and includinguprights or standards and a top piece connected thereto, supportingmembers or runners in which said uprights or standards are mounted, abrace member connectmg said supporting members or runners, a

transverse shaft journaled to one of said runners and said brace member,and having a gear on its inner end and a driving member on its outerend, spaced gears loosely and slidably mounted on said longitudinalshaft with which said Wheel is in mesh, bearings or sleeves for saidlongitudinal shaft connected to said connecting brace, said sleeves orbearings being positioned in engagement with the outer faces of saidspaced gear wheels, a clutch member slidably keyed :in said groove orkey-way in the longitudinal shaft and adapted'to clutch either one ofsaid spaced gear wheels to said longitudinal shaft, and means for movingsaid clutch member into engagement with either of said spacer gearwheels, said means being movits tendingdongitudinally under saidsupport, a traveling frame adjustable longitudinally on said support, adriving gear mounted on said shaft and movable with said frame,idle-gear journaled on said frame and engaged by said driving gear, a.transverse shaft journaled in bearings supported by said traveling frameadapted to be actuated through the medium of said idle-gear, and rotarymembers and flexible driving means connected to said idle-gear.

7 A mechanical movement for Wringere comprising a. suitable support, alongitudinally disposed master-shaft having fined bearings in saidsupport, a traveling frame movable longitudinally on said support andcomprising two upright standards, a cross plate connecting the upperends thereof,

runners to which said standards are secured movable on said support,, adriven si: it mounted on said traveling frame, and actubearings in saidsupport, a traveling i'rame movable longitudinally on said support andcomprising two upright standards, a cross plate connecting the upperends thereof, runners to which said standards are secured movable onsaid support, a' dr'ven' shaft mounted on said traveling frame, a transmission shaft carried by said frame and arranged at an angle to saidmaster-shaft, means transmitting the motion oi said mi 5- ter-shaft tosaid transmission-shaft, and separate actuating means connecting S216.

transmission-shaft and driven shaft.

9. A mechanical movement for wringers comprising a suitable support, alongitudinally disposed. master-shaft having fixed bearings in saidsupport, a traveling frame ra ed at an angle to said master-shaft,nsmitting the motion oi; said mas tor-shaft to said transmissioirshait,and a flexible driving means and rntmn, members connecting saidtransmissioirehaiit and driven shaft.

14 a device of the hind specified comprising suitable elongated support,parallel side members on the top thereof, a travelingframe comprisingrunners movable on said side members, standards to and ing from. saidrunners, cro connectsaid standards, a driven-shaft jonrnaled on saidcrossplate, a mastershai't extending longitudinally under said suppo't,and so tuating means for said driven-aha mounted on and movable withsaid ingirame and deri Lag motion ii? said master-shaft,

11. A device of the kind specified com prising a suitable elongatedsupport, parallel side members on the top thereof, a traveling framecomprising runners movable on. side members, standards secured toarising from said runners, at cross-plate connect ing said standards,drivereshait iournaled on said crossrplate, a mastei shait, estend rlongitudinally under said support, and ing for said driven-shaft that ismoun. er and movable with said tiitvfiililfif fi deriving motion fromsaid ma in testimony whereof l: my signs-- ture, in presence oi twowitnesses,

ALPHEUS W. ilnllfiiijiitlt l'l ft. Witnesses 2 @scnn S. H. ALTonr

